Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-09-14
THE WIDOWS ADONIS.


FuE-erllI Brandon was one OF the
lucky muJtlls treated with maternal
plgualErg uy that hckle jade, Fortune.
No s.sulalue frowuS fell TO his share,
no chilling glauces, no rebufIs. Every
Jl..- Went We'll with him.
U.f Le speculate imprudently, the
suegu alton, however uupromising, was
certain TO do we'll; did he back rank
outsider o. a great race, iJ was almost
certain of a place. Fortune always
uetr.rudet him. He generally rose a
winner from u.s post praudial rubber,
not because his skill was extraordinary,
hut flum shere force of luck; and il
was ON rycuTi that at one occasion he
broke the bank at Monte Carlo.
He was, besides, extremely hand
some, though on Nliputian scale; FOR
FUE-sgald Brandon was not only one
gt the IuCklesr, but also one OF the
smallest OF men. He stood lust five
feet i've .u his boots, hut his neat little
figure, ways dressed in the most per-
fectly-G,f.uE Curts-d'0euvre Of Small
page of Poole, was 50 erect, 50 dapper.
AMI sn Well LropOUtiOned, that any
shortcomings of stature were readily
forgiven and tuTgOttgn by his numer-
GUS admirers Of the far sex. For
whatever the lady-nOveilst may say,
women are not so utterly devoted IL
those lords of berCulean build and
sUpyrhumau physical strength who
IuvFrnNv figure IN the pages Of fash
iouab'e fiction.
Latte FlJz was, in his way, quite .
lady killer. aud rs lie was well known
20 be % rich man as well as a lucky
man, L.s lines generally fell IN pleasant
places. Ills position in society was
assured, and many fair demoisette
MOVING in the very best circles would
have been willing enough To share his
fortunes.
But little F.tZ seemed reluctant 90
don the matrimonial fetters; he es-
chewed the society of the demoiSelle a
marier, pgste-u- the maturer charms
of ladies who already Wore the marriage
ring and Vet could enjoy a Irritation
without fear Ot u scandal.
IL short. Ettle FILZ was a devoted
Rdmirer Of that privileged class, young
and pretty widows.
Perhaps he f0uLly imagined he was
less likely 90 le caught by these
bereaved SIRENS than by young de
butauJes stifl under the maternal wing.
~ all events, he was nearly always
TO De seen With one or other Of these
fair ladies WHO, having dotted tueu
weeds, had b'OOussd out again in al
their pristine bUuiancy.
And that Is how ue won the SOU
urlguet Iy which Ee was known IL
every club in London, of, "Th,
Widows AdouIs.'
.,Tust look at tie feIIowl How any
woman can take up with such . con
ceitpt little cuxcOmu, I can't imagine,
sand Maitland, of the jgtu Dragons
heavy driEuou IN more senses thar
one. for he rode fourteen stone and Wa
more remarkable FOR breadth of shOul
der than QuICkuess OF vito hl
uIus ACLates one morning III the Row
There's no accounting tor tastes,
mustersd the other, pulling his mus
tache and durtug euylouS SEtuceS a
ItLIe EIty. who was seated hetweeI
two Of the prettiest young widows II
London. and seemed nightly 10 TellSi
his rosltf1u. II should have though
A charming woman like Mrs. DESMOND
T He did not finish the sentence
but Clargd rercely at the dapper lSur,
Of little FEZ, who was laughing anI
chatting gayIy to his fair companions
IL looks could xiii, what who.esal
slaughter would 60 on In tins hlghl.
civilized WetEtbOllS % NAtH.
lack CurufOrth, the impecunlou
oN,Eo,s of AN ancient family tree
v-.urd have given a good deal 10 secuT
f,r.frv Mrs. Desmond and her fortune
which WAS said TO be considerable. a
one time she had accepted his hOmag
with apparent pleasure, but since Fltz
gerald Brandon had crossed her pat
She had turned a deaf ear 10 the pennl
less Young attaches pretty speeches
Poor CarufOrth, in spite of his goo
looks. felt that he was hOpelessly out q
the ruuuiu-, for, though Brando
nfrbr he. as Maitland said, "a cor
raffed little coxcumb, " 1t was imposs
bra to DENY that he possessed the art
making himself agreeable
The two ladies', between whom IN
miniature Paris was seated were as ~
taroui~tic TO each other as Maltlan
and ClrnfOrth were 10 the OBJECT
their rivalry, for the two pretty widow
were rivals, and hated each other Co
dIaUy though they called each oth'
uDsar Muua" and Dear Ciemei
tina. - and before the eyes of the woTl
posed AS great friends and allies.
In appearance the two Indies col
+rssFed we'll and each flatteTed herse
mar her friend was an excellent foil
nor own charms. Eiinua Desmond ";
n taIl. handsome brunette, with I'll
ewes and magnificent black hair, VIII
ClementIua S0mers was talry-li
Monde. with u dazzling complexiol
brirbt blue eyes, and a chevelure OF Il
most belutIluI-dye; at least, SO d
s.lear Miuua'' said. Both were rep
ted TO be wealthy aud acknowledged
be charming, ard both were bent
securing the affection of that fortuna
individual. 1.-The Widows Adon!s. j"
.Pshawr' muttered Carnforth, rs
watched the trio. - suppose his nom
Is the attraction"
"OF course it isl You don't thin
anv woman would admire his looks,
youY- retorted Maitland, squarinS /
broad shoulders aud arranging the g
Iepia IN his buttOn-hOle. Nv omen a
ALWAYS mercena-y," Il" he added, Win
sigh.
He had only couple Of hundred
vear and his pay. y good matrimon
venture would have set him hrlniS